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Timothy M. Lavin, 36, of Leicester is wanted by Leicester Police in connection to an armed home invasion in that town on Jan. 5, 2014, during which money, jewelry and a Purple Heart medal was stolen, according to police.
(Leicester Police Department)

LEICESTER — A local resident is sought in connection with a Jan. 5 armed home invasion when three people were bound and gagged at gunpoint and then robbed of valuables, including a Purple Heart medal.

Tuesday afternoon, Leicester Police Chief James Hurley announced that an arrest warrant has been issued for Timothy M. Lavin, 36, whose last known address was 11 Hyland Ave., Leicester.

On Jan. 5, Leicester Police responded to a private residence on a road off of Route 9 near the Worcester line for a report that two men had bound and gagged three residents and then stolen an undisclosed amount of money, jewelry and a Purple Heart medal that had once belonged to one of the homeowner's deceased father.

Leicester Police executed a search warrants at Lavin’s house in Leicester last week. During a search of the residence, police recovered jewelry that was taken during the home invasion, and a firearm which police investigators believe was the weapon used during the robbery. Police did not find the Purple Heart medal and it's recovery remains a priority for the department as it continues to investigate the incident, Hurley said in a news release.

Chief Hurley said that Lavin has not been seen since the morning that police arrived at his home to execute a search warrant and that state and local law enforcement agencies have checked numerous locations for him without success.

According to a newly approved arrest warrant, once found Lavin will be charged with:
• Home invasion;
• Larceny from a person 65+;
• Illegal possession of a firearm;
• Armed robbery while masked with a firearm;
• Larceny over $250;
• Possession of a class A controlled substance;
• Possession of a large capacity firearm;
• Improper storage of a large capacity firearm;
• Possession of a class B controlled substance;
• Possession with intent to distribute class D substance; and
• Possession with intent to distribute a class A substance.

Hurley said that the work to this point is the culmination "of three weeks of extensive police work by Leicester Police Department investigators."

"There were a number of officers who worked on this case anywhere to 8-16 hours per day from the day it occurred. Their hard work developed enough information to support the issuance of the search warrants and subsequent arrest warrant. The investigators who worked the case and the warrant service team that executed the warrant and searched Timothy Lavin’s residence did an outstanding and highly professional job," Hurley said in a release Tuesday afternoon.

Hurley also thanked District Attorney Joseph Early’s office for their continued assistance throughout the course of the investigation.

The Leicester Police Department is asking anyone with information on the whereabouts of Timothy M. Lavin to contact the Leicester Police Department at (508) 892-7010.